Application of the sulphide podand 1,12-Di-2-thienyl-2,5,8,11-tetrathiadodecane to the determination of silver in ores and tailings by solvent extraction-atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract

A method has been developed for the determination of silver in copper ores and tailings by AAS based on the solvent extraction of silver with 1,12-di-2-thienyl-2,5,8,11-tetrathiadodecane, an acyclic neutral ligand with six sulphur donor atoms (sulphide podand), in IBMK. The separation was carried out on samples dissolved in 2 M nitric acid in the presence of boric acid. The accuracy of the method was examined using standard reference materials [a copper-zinc ore and a copper (pyrite) ore]. An r.s.d. of 2.8–4.9% for 10^–4–10^–3% silver in ores was obtained.